Alcy Elementary School Faces Closure

January 27, 2014 - Erika Cain holds her daughter, 6-year-old Gabrielle Cain, while she naps during a meeting at Alcy Elementary School Monday evening, as Shelby County school officials discuss their consideration for closing the educational institution. Cain's husband, Terrence, is a teacher at AES. (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal)

January 27, 2014 - People enter Alcy Elementary School to attend a meeting Monday evening with Shelby County school officials, who are considering closing the educational institution. (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal)

January 27, 2014 - Parent Warren Cherry addresses Shelby County Schools superintendent Dorsey Hopson (not pictured) during a meeting at Alcy Elementary School Monday evening. Officials are considering closing the educational institution. "My children attend here. This school has been in this neighborhood for 30 years or more," Cherry says. "We've lost one school ... we can't lost two. When you take schools and churches from a community, you kill a community." (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal)

January 27, 2014 - Shelby County Schools superintendent Dorsey Hopson speaks to concerned supporters of Alcy Elementary School during a meeting there Monday night. Shelby County school officials are considering closing the educational institution. (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal)

January 27, 2014 — Renelle Duncan listens to Shelby County School officials speak during a meeting at Alcy Elementary School, while her 5-month-old son, Kaliyun McClain, reaches for his 8-year-old sleeping sister, Britany McClain, Monday night. McClain is in second-grade at Alcy Elementary School, which is facing closure. (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal)

January 27, 2014 - Frank Johnson asks a question during a meeting with Shelby County school officials at Alcy Elementary School Monday evening. AES is being considered for closure. "Now we're sitting here talking about closing yet another school in this neighborhood," Johnson says, who grew up near AES. "So, it just seems like our schools are again on the chopping block for entertainment, for the Redbirds. They're (Shelby County Commission) giving the Redbirds $25 million dollars, but yet our schools are being closed." (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal)

January 27, 2014 - Men attending a meeting at Alcy Elementary School Monday evening converse as Shelby County school officials discuss their consideration for closing the educational institution. (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal)

January 27, 2014 - Willie Rhodes, Shelby County Schools regional superintendent, Southwest, urges Alcy Elementary School supporters to not throw tomatoes at him during a meeting Monday evening. "I'm just the messenger," Rhodes states, as he talks to those upset about a possible closure for AES. (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal)

January 27, 2014 - Supporters wear t-shirts in hopes of preventing Alcy Elementary School from being closed as they attend a meeting Monday evening with Shelby County school officials. (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal)

January 27, 2014 - Fourth-grader Jameria Sharp, 10, writes as she attends a meeting at Alcy Elementary School Monday evening, while Shelby County school officials discuss their consideration for closing the educational institution. (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal)

January 27, 2014 - Maria Tate Fair speaks during a meeting at Alcy Elementary School Monday evening with Shelby County school officials, who are considering closing the educational institution. "I am here to support Alcy Elementary School, Vance ... every school that's up for shutdown," Fair says, who is president of the Parent-Teacher- Student Association at Lanier Middle School. "I will support every school. Let's not close these schools. Let's build them up." (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal)